At the 4th Annual International Myeloma Working Group Summit, which just wrapped up in Stockholm, important questions were again considered by over 70 IMWG myeloma researchers from 29 different countries. With a format structured to facilitate and encourage open discussion, the "hot topic," according to IMF Chairman Dr. Brian Durie, was clearly the diagnosis and management of high-risk smoldering or early active myeloma. READ DR. DURIE'S BLOG HERE

"As one of the world's top multiple myeloma physicians and researchers, Brian G.M. Durie, MD, can boil his mission down to one simple goal: saving lives," writes Beth Fand Incollingo. Her in-depth profile of Dr. Durie appears in the June 2013 issue of OncologyLive, a print magazine and online site for oncology professionals. READ PROFILE HERE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Updates Its PET Scan Policy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reversed a proposal made earlier this year stating that local Medicare & Medicaid boards would review requests for scans beyond the first covered scan. In response, the IMF filed a letter calling the one-scan limitation "highly inappropriate for myeloma patients." The CMS has now announced it will approve multiple scans. But the number of scans is not open-ended, according to Dr. Brian Durie, IMF Chairman. He explains that patients can have three scans, but after that, a review is required. "This is cumbersome, but mostly fair in these days of concern about healthcare costs." READ CMS DECISION MEMO HERE

"We Are All in This Fight Together"

June's Advocate of the Month is Barb Sarbaugh, Advocacy Liaison to the Cincinnati Support Group. Barb contributes to other myeloma patients through her great work on the Postcards for Parity Program and by inspiring others to take action as well. She collected 89 signatures in one night alone! READ ABOUT WHAT INSPIRES HER TO TAKE ACTION

Nevada's Governor Brian Sandoval has signed legislation that makes Nevada the 25th state to require insurers to provide coverage for oral medication that is equivalent to conventional intravenous cancer drugs. The law in Nevada comes at a time when over 30 percent of some 500 anti-cancer drugs under development are oral medications. READ MORE